When the aftereffects eased, he fell beside her. She kept her arms around him and rolled onto his chest. Both of them were panting and sweating, and never had he felt more content.
"Will you be my mate?" he asked her, his joy sobering in the face of what was to come. The return of her coldness, her lack of emotion. He needed to lay what groundwork he could to guarantee they remained together when this was over. "I vow to love you, now and forever, see to your comfort, now and forever, and protect you with my own life. Now and forever."
She raised her head, eyes sultry, and peered down at him. A slow smile lifted her lips. "Yes. Yes. All that I am, all that I have, is yours. I will love you, comfort you and protect you. Now and forever."
"Swear to me you will not forget that we are mated. That no matter what you feel inside, you will not forget this moment, this promise." He cupped her cheek and stared up into her eyes. "Don't ask me why, just swear it."
Her smile faded, but she nodded. "I swear it. I will not forget."
He squeezed her tightly. And when she rested her head in the crook of his neck, he sighed, praying the night never ended.
"I can't believe we are together at last."
He could. He only hoped it lasted.
CHAPTER 25
ONLY A FEW HOURS of darkness remained, Delilah thought, more sated than she had ever been in her life. She and Layel had made love several more times in several different positions. He couldn't seem to get enough of her, his need almost...desperate.
He'd made her promise all kinds of things. To always love him. To always forgive him. To kiss him every morning for the rest of her life. To be the one to win the challenge, no matter what she saw or heard, no matter what happened. She had been more than happy to agree to everything but the last - which had only made him work harder to convince her of the rightness of her taking victory for herself. Finally, she'd given in and promised. She would win, and she would demand Layel's life as her prize. But she didn't want Tagart or Broderick to die, either. Was there a way to save everyone?
Miracles were indeed possible, she now realized. He loves me, she thought with a shocked grin. They should be up, finishing the challenge, but she cherished this time with him and couldn't stand the thought of it ending. He had said goodbye to his old love; they were going to be together. She didn't know how they would leave the island together - the prize perhaps. But never again would she push him away.
"I could happily lie here forever, sweetheart, but time is running out for us to find the answer to the gods' riddle," Layel said as he rubbed a hand down her spine. Confusion, determination and dread layered the announcement.
She shivered and propped her head on her hand, looking down at him. Just catching a glimpse of his eerie beauty caused her chest to constrict. He's my man. What an exhilarating concept. "What makes you think it's a riddle? We were told there was something up here that even a brave man would run from. And we have heard the creature's cry, so we know they weren't lying."
As if it had heard their conversation and wanted to re-affirm its presence, the unnamed creature howled, the unholy sound rending the air. Judging by the volume, the beast wasn't close to them, but it was closer than it had been a few hours ago.
"The goddess Hestia called this challenge a riddle."
"No, she didn't. I would remember."
His glowing blue eyes focused on her, and never had they appeared so grave. Secrets churned in their depths. "Trust me on this."
"All right. I do." She trusted him with her heart, so there was no reason to doubt him in this.
He leaned up and kissed her, and just like that she felt him grow hard against her thigh. Reaching down, she curled her fingers around his length and squeezed. His eyelids closed in ecstasy as he hissed in a breath.
"Are you always this insatiable?" she asked with a laugh.
"I could ask the same of you, sweet. But to answer your question, yes, but only with you."
No wonder she loved him. "I'm glad, because I would slay any woman who tried to take you from me."